Coin-operated vending machine



March 15, 1949. J, w K s 2,464,737

COIN-OPERATED VENDING MACHINE Filed May 16, 1946 '7 Sheets-Sheet l l- I I IIIIIIIIIIIII' I W III In |||||||l|| III IILIIIIII'II IIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII I -\II I :nnnmuunun I I III III" lu- IIIIII I IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIII]! l IIIIII "II I IIIIIIIII IN V EN TOR. rib/x27 MZ/ezfefis A T TOR NEYS March 15, 1949. J. F. WELLEKENS 2,464,737

COIN-OPERATED VENDING MACHINE Filed May 16, 1946 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. lb/177i fi/e/fie/rens A I'TORNEYS:

March 15, 1949. J, wELLEKENs 2,464,737

COIN-OPERATED VENDING MACHINE Filed May 16, 1946 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR. Jafi fiYWe/ekens AT romwsvs.

March 15, 1949. J wg E s 2,464,737

COIN-OPERATED VENDING MACHINE Filed May 16, 1946 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 A TTO RN EYs.

'7 Sheets-Sheet 5 gag .9597 75 z? INVENTOR. Jafin/Z' M/ZQIe/YS ATTORNE vs.

J. F. WELLEKENS COIN-OPERATED VENDING MACHINE March 15, 1949.

Filed May 16, 1946 JFW L1H W 4w 5 "m a m k w s 2 w W a I W 6 5 .1

m a W5 March 15, 1949. wELLEKENs 2,464,737

COIN-OPERATED VENDING MACHINE Filed May 16, 1946 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 a /0 /47 /27 A I INVENTOR. 7519/7 fiWe/QXaws ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 15, 1949 COIN-OPERATED VENDING MACHINE John F. Wellekens, Providence, R. L, assignor to W & J Company, a corporation of Rhode Island Application May 16, 1946, Serial No. 670,126 8 Claims. (Cl. 312-971) This invention relates to a vending machine, particularly a coin controlled vending machine adapted for dispensing bottled merchandise and the like.

In machines of this character, it is desirable that the power source, which affects the movement of the articles to be dispensed to the discharge port of the machine, be at rest when in the process of projecting the article from the machine and also be prevented from accidental actuation when loading the machine with the merchandise to be dispensed thereby. It is also desirable to provide a magazine for storing the articles to be dispensed which is of such construction as to provide for easy and rapid loading thereof.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of a vendin machine having the above desirable features.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a vending machine particularly adapted for dispensing bottled beverages.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a vending machine in which a magazine for storing articles to be dispensed by the machine may be removed and replaced.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a vending machine in which the storing and dispensing mechanism will comprise a self-contained complete unit.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a vending machine in which the articles to be dispensed will be such as to provide for spacing and maintaining the articles in spaced relation from each other until discharged from the machine.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a vending machine of a construction in which the articles when being dispensed from the machine will operate to open an electric circuit and maintain the power source at rest until the article is fully discharged from the machine.

Another object of the invention is the provision .of a vending machine having'a magazine storage which may be manually actuated when loading.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a vending machine of this character which can be manufactured at a comparatively low cost of production and which will be durable and satisfactory in use.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a central sectional elevational view of a fragmental portion of a vending machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the magazine for storing the merchandise to be dispensed and the mechanism for actuatin the same;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a fragmentary portion of an element of the magazine;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5--5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of Fi 5;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 'l--1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a fragmental sectional view taken along line 88 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the delivery or discharge mechanism;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 9 with the movable elements thereof in different relationship from that shown in Fig. 9; and

Fig. 11 is a view of an electric circuit which controls the operation of the machine- Referring to the drawings for a more detailed description of the invention, l0 designates generally a vending machine in the form of a cabinet of the refrigerator type which may be of any approved construction and may consist of a plurality of walls ll suitably interconnected to form a. rigid unit providing an upper compartment [2 and a lower compartment [3 (see Fig. 1). The compartment I2 is designed to serve as a cooling compartment for the objects to be dispensed by the machine and each wall may be insulated and faced by sheet metal plates M. The lower compartment contains the refrigerator apparatus not shown which effects the cooling compartment in anywell-known manner. The upper portion of the cabinet frame unit includes cross beams IS on which rest two spaced angle irons l6 from which is suspended the magazine generally indicated I! for storing and moving the objects to a discharge port extending through the outer surface of the cabinet door.

I The magazine I! comprises a rotor unit l8 and a relatively stationary storage frame unit or rack I! which surrounds the rotor unit. The storage unit I9 is enerally circular and comprises an upper end support member 20 consisting of a casting of spider formation providing a plurality of equally spaced arms 2| extending radially from a central hub portion 22 which has a central opening 23 (see Figs. 2 and 7). The end portion of each arm 2| has an opening 24 through which ama-r projects the end portion of a tie rod which secures the upper support 28 to a lower end support 26 (Fig. 7) which is generally shnilar to the upper support. The lower support also consists of a casting 2lj of a spider formation providing a plurality of arms 28 extending radially from a central hub p rtion 28 which also has a central opening 30 aligned with the opening 23. The arms 28 are aligned with the arms 2| and have openings 3| to receive the lower ends of the tie rods 25. The ends of each tie rod are threaded and receive nuts 32 which provide an adjustable shoulder for engaging the inner surface of the arms 2 I, 28 through which the'rod projects while nuts 33 engage the threaded ends of the rods projecting beyond the end supports to clamp the arms to the rods.

In the present adaptation of the invention the magazine is designed for dispensing bottled goods such as beverages and to this end the storage rack unit is provided with a helical ramp generally designated 34 (Figs. 1 and 7) here shown in the form of spaced wires 35 which rest upon supports 36. These supports are in the form of wires secured to the tie rods 25 at spaced intervals along the length thereof and project from the tie rods in a general radial direction towards the center of the magazine and in proper relation to each other so as to provide a helical track extending from the upper portion of the rack to a discharge opening generally indicated 31 best shown in Figs. 5 and 6. These wire supports 36 may be aflixed to th rods in any convenient manner such as by welding the same as at 38; A guard is provided for preventing the bottled goods from moving radially outwardly of the magazine. The guard is positioned on the outward side of the ramp 34 and spaced therefrom. The guard comprises a wire 39 secured to the tie rods as by means of welding. This guard extends from adjacent th upper portion of the ramp 34 to the lower end portion of the ramp. I have shown the ramp 34 as formed of two spaced wire tracks 35 which is adaptable for moving bottled goods and the like. However, the ramp may take other various forms in accordance with the nature of the objects to be dispensed by the machine.

The bottled goods are moved along the ramp towards the discharge opening 31 by the rotor unit |8 which comprises pushers provided by an upper support 48 having a plurality of equally spaced arms 4| (see Fig. 4) extending radially from a central hub portion 42 which has a central opening 43. These arms 4| extend to adjacent the inner edge of the ramp 34 and ar equal in number to the arms 2| and are in line therewith. To the end extremity of each arm there is attached channel iron 44 as by means of bolts 45. The lower ends of these arms are similarly secured to a lower end support 46 (see Fig. '7) which is generally similar to the support and is also provided with arms 41 which project radially from the central hub portion 48 having a. central opening 49 in line with the opening 43. Extending from the upper end support 4|) to the lower end support 46 are channel pieces 50. Each channel piece 50 is positioned at a location between adjacent arms 4|, 41 and centrall thereof. These channel pieces face outwardly and are inclined so as to conform to and abut against the side of adjacent arms 4|, 41 as at 5|, 52 and there secured as by means of welding (see Fig. 5). The base of the channel pieces 53 abuts against the hub 42 of the upper support and the hub 48 of the lower support.

Thestorage unit and the rotor unit are mounted for relative rotation and for rotation as a unit about a stationary tubular support 54. The upper end portion of this tubular support is journalled in a bearing sleeve 55 which lines the opening 23 and has a shoulder 56 which abuts against the inner surface of the support 28. The lower end of th support 54 is journalled in a bearing sleeve 51 received in the opening 30 and which is provided with a shoulder 58 which abuts against the outer surface of the support 26. The rotor unit is journalled on the support 54 by means of anti-friction bearings 59 secured to the support 54 and to the hub 42 of the upper support of the rotor and anti-friction. bearings 60 secured to the support 54 and to the hub 48 of the lower support in a usual well-known manner. A central sleeve 6| is also provided for tying the end supports of the rotor to each other and this sleeve surrounds the central support 54 with the ends thereof received in the enlarged opening 8|" in the upper support and the enlarged opening 62 in the lower support of the rotor and is secured therein such as by screws 63. Lateral movement of the rotor on the support 54 is prevented by means of the sleeve 55 which projects into engagement with hearing 59 and the sleeve 51 which projects into engagement with the bearing 60.

The magazine unit is suspended in position within the compartment |2 in such a manner that it may be readily detached from position for interchanging with other similar units or for replacement with magazine units of a design and size appropriate for the particular merchandise to be dispensed by the machine. Accordingly a rod 64 is inserted in the upper portion of the tubular support 54 and secured thereto such as by a pin 65. The free end of the rod 64 is threaded and projects into the space 66 between the angle irons l6 and through a washer 61 overlaying the arms 68 of the angle irons I6. Nuts 69 engage the rod 64 and detachably secure the magazine in position. The lower end of the shaft 54 projects beyond the sleeve 5'! and is received in an opening 18 in a. cross beam 1|.

In order to lock the magazine in proper position relative to the discharge port of the machine, a spring pressed plunger 12 is provided, this plunger is mounted on one of the arms 2| and projects beyond the outer surface thereof into engagement with a keeper element 13.

The rotation of the rotor of the magazine is effected by power means furnished by a motor generally designated 14, power from which is transmitted to the rotor through a train of gears generally designated 15. This train of gears consists of a gear wheel 16 secured. to a reduced central portion 18 of the upper end support 40. The gear 16 engages a pinion gear 19 fixed to a stub shaft depending from the end support 20. This pinion I9 is secured to a gear wheel 8| so as to rotate therewith which in turn engages a pinion 82 rotatable about a stub shaft 83 depending from end support 20. Fixed to rotate with the pinion 82 is a worm wheel 84 which meshes with a worm 85 secured to the shaft 86 of the m tor 14. The motor 14 is also supported by th end support 20 by means of a web 81 (see Fig. 2) extending between two of the arms 2| as at 88. Screws 89 extend through the web and engage the motor casting to secure the sam to the web 81 in a well-known manner. It will be apparent that actuating of the motor will revolv the rotor l8 through thistrain of gears.

In dispensing individual goods from the machine, only a speciflcangular rotary movement of the magazine rotor is required and to this end a microswitclf 90 (see Fig. 8) is employed. The switch has a double contact and is mounted on a bracket I adjustably supp rted on posts 92 secured to and depending from arms 2I of the upper rafik support 20 as at 93, 94 (Fig. 2). The microswitch 90 is positioned in the motor circuit and is actuated by means of a cam 95 which is rotatably supported on a stud 95 secured to and depending from the upper support 20 as at 91. A pinion gear 98 is also rotatably supported on the stud 98 and is affixed to the cam so as to rotate therewith as a unit. The pinion engages with the gear wheel 15 and is rotated thereby. The ratio of rotation between the gear wheel I5 and the pinion 98 is such that for each predetermined specific portion of angular rotation of the magazine rotor the pinion 98 and the cam wheel 95 affixed thereto will be rotated a half revolution. The flexible arm 99 of the microswitch which effects the movement of the movable contact of the switch from one contact to another is provided with a roller I00. The roller is positioned to engage the cam surface. The cam is provided with a high side and 8. directly opposite low side so as the roller rides from the high side to the low side and vice versa the movable contact of the switch will be moved to contact one or the other of the contacts thereof in a manner well known to those familiar with this type of switch. The switch operates to-open one branch of the motor circuit to bring the motor to rest and to close another branch of the motor circuit for a subsequent actuation thereof.

Provision is made whereby the machine becomes inoperative when empty of merchandise and to this end the lower end of the storage rack I9 is provided with a gate IOI in continuation of the helical ramp 34. This gate is in the form of a plate I02 which is hingedly mounted to one of the arms 28 as at I03 by means of a hinge device I04 (see Figs. 5 and 6). The free end of the gate rests upon the next adjacent arm 28 as at I05. 'A flat spring I08 is secured to the hub 29 and projects therefrom into engagement with the under side of the plate I02. The function of the spring is to raise the gate should the same be free of an article dispensed by the machine. To the under side of the plate I02 there is suspended a mercury switch I01 in a manner that the switch is closed when the gate is in the lower position and is open when the, gate is raised. The weight of the spring I08 is such as to be overbalanced by the combined weight of the gate and one of the articles dispensed by the machine.

Articles are dispensed from the machine through an opening I08 in the cabinet door D and a mechanism designated generally I09 is provided for directing the articles to the opening I08 or discharge port. This mechanism comprises a casting having side walls III, front wall I I2 interconnected by means of an arcuated rear wall H3. The front wall is provided with an opening II4 surrounded by aflange II extending within the body of the casting. This casting is secured to the inner side of the door of the cabinet as by means of bolts II8. Pivotally mounted to the side walls III is a cradleII'I which is provided with a bearing II8 which receives a pivot pin II9 extending from and supported on the side walls III which pivotally 6 mounts the cradle so as to be swung inwardly within the casting. The cradle has a portion III at one side of the pivot II9 to which is suspended a weight I20 tending to return and maintain the cradle at a normal position as shown in Fig. 9. On this cradle there is mounted a guide I which is of a form to receive the articles to -be dispensed and guide the same to the dis charge port. In this particular instance the articles are bottled beverage and the guide is arcuated and of a size to receive the particular sizes of bottle dispensed by the machine. When the door D is in closed position, this casting will project from the door to a location directly beneath the opening 31 in the storage magazine.

In the operation of this directing mechanism, a bottle is moved from the gate IOI onto the guide I2I which will overbalance the weight I20 and will cause the cradle to swing about the pivot 9 to align the guide I2I with the opening H4 and permit the bottle to slide out through the discharge port.

In order to seal the opening 4 when the machine is at rest, a closure device generally indicated I22 is provided. This device consists of a disc I23 to both sides of which is secured rubber sealing annulus I24. This closure device I22 is secured to an arm of a lever I25 as by means of a link I26 secured to the disc I23 and to the arm I21 of the lever in any approved manner, that herein shown comprising bolt and threaded connections. The lever is pivotally mounted on an extension I28 which depends from the cradle I II. The other arm I29 of the lever I25 is of an extent to engage an abutment I30 positioned in the A pull spring I3I I path of movement thereof. is secured to the arm I21 and its other end is anchored to a bracket I28 secured to the eX- tension I28. When the cradle H1 is swung inwardly by the weight of the bottle thereon in the process of discharging the same, the lever I25 will be carried therewith and move the arm I29 thereof out of contact with the abutment I30. This will permit the lever to be swung about its pivot by the action of the pull spring to move the :closure member I22 away from the edge of the flange I I5. When the cradle is free of the bottle the weight I20 will return the plate to its normal position. During the return movement of the cradle the arm I29 will be moved into engagement with the abutment I30 and' swing the lever about its pivot in a direction to move the closure member again into engagement with the edges of the flange H5 and there seal the opening H4. The disc I22 is sufliciently loosely mounted upon the link I25 that the same with the aid of the flexibility of the rubber annulus will adjust itself to any irregularity between the parts that may be present due to manufacturing reasons.

In order to prevent conduction through the walls of the flange and the door about the opening I I4 a tubular member 4' of a synthetic material is provided. This tubular member extends through the opening I08 in the door D of the cabinet and is received in the opening H4.

The motor is prevented from a subsequent actuation thereof during the final stage of dispensing an article from the machine by means of mercury switch designated I32 positioned in the motor circuit and suspended from the cradle III in such a manner that when the cradle is in the normal position as shown in Fig, 9 the switch will be in a closed position and when the cradle is in the lowered position as shown in Fig. 10 the switch will be open.

In order to load the magazine with the mer rrfagazine. The bottles may now bepositioned on the wires 35 with the head of the bottles positioned to extend within firearms of the channel pieces 50fWhen the entire exposed area of the magazine is filled the plunger 12 may be released from the keeper 13 in order that the magazine may be manually turned as a unit so as to expose a difierent area of the magazine to be filled. When the loading of the magazine has been completed, the same may be manually turned to proper position and the plunger 12 moved into engagement with the keeper 15. It may now be apparent that in the rotation of the rotor I8, the neck of the bottles as well as the head part thereof will be engaged by the channel pieces 44, 55 and move the bottles on the helical path downwardly toward the discharge opening 31. An electric circuit which may be employed forcontrolling the operation of the machine is illustrated in Fig. 11. Part of this circuit is carried by the magazine and includes a plurality of terminal contacts I33, I34, I35 and I36 which project outwardly from a terminal box I31 (Fig. 1) formed in the upper end support 20 of the magazine.

The other part of the circuit includes a like number of terminal contacts I38, I39, I40 and I carried by the door of the cabinet at a location thereon to be in line with and engage the contacts I 33 to I36 inclusive, with the door in the closed position. With the door in the opened position, these terminal contacts are disengaged from each other thereby opening the electric circuit. The machine is coin operated and a coin operated mechanism of an approved design (not shown) is carried by the cabinet door and includes a coin switch S.

With the magazine loaded with merchandise and the cabinet door properly closed the machine is in condition for operation. A coin of the proper denomination may now be placed in the coin operated mechanism which will close the coin operated switch S and actuate the motor 14 which will through the train of gears rotate the rotor I8 a predetermined proportion of a revolution to move the merchandise, in the present instance a bottle, onto the cradle II1 which will guide the bottle to be dispensed through the discharge port I08.

The electric circuit which operates to control the operation of the machine may be traced as follows. With the coin switch S closed an electric current will fiow from live conductor I42, switch S, line I43, terminal contacts I39, I34 and line I44 to step relay I45 to energize the solenoid I45 therein and through a ratchet operated mechanism indicated generally I41 will move the movable contact I48 of a double switch into engagement with one or the other of fixed contacts I48. I50 which are connected to fixed contacts II, I52 respectively of micro-switch 90 by means of wires I53, I54. The return line from relay I45 may be traced through line I55, contacts I33, I55, line I 56 to return conductor I51 of power line.

The motor switch I58 will now be closed by means of relay I59 which is now energized to move movable contact I60 into engagement with fixed contact I6I. The current flows to the solenoid I62 of the relay by conductor I42. line I53.

8 contacts I45. I85, line I55 to mercury switch I32, from-mercury switch by lines I05, I51 to solenoid I52 and returns to conductor I51 by line I58, movable contact I58 0! micro-switch 90, from switch by wire I54. contacts I50, I48, lines I10, I55, contacts I35, I and line I56. Electric current may now flow to motor by lines I63, contact I45, I35, line I55, mercury switch I32, line I55, line I'll tocontacts I50, "I and line I12 to motor 14. From motor the return circuit may be traced through lines I13, I55, contacts I33, I38 and line I55 to return conductor I51. After a predetermined proportional revolution of rotor I8 the cam 55 will have rotated sufllcient to cause contact I55 to be moved from either of the contacts I5I, I53 to which it may have been engaged and open the circuit to relay I55.

The circuit also includes a coin return rela I14 which must be in the energized condition in order that the coin may be accepted by the coin operated mechanism. The circuit of the relay I14 may be traced by conductor I42, line I63, contacts I40, I85, line I55, switch I32, lines I66, I1I, contacts I55. I15, which will be in engagement when the solenoid I52 is de-energized, From contacts I15 to line I16, switch I 01, line I11, contacts I35, I and line I18 to solenoid and return conductor I51.

I claim:

1. In a dispensing machine a cabinet havin a loading opening and discharge opening, two coaxial circular units one within the other, means to rotatably mount each unit on its axis, one of said units comprising a helical ramp to support articles to be dispensed, a given arcuate portion of which is accessible through said loading opening, and the other unit comprising circularly arranged pushers adjacent said ramp to engage between articles on the ramp to advance them therealong to the discharge opening upon relative rotary movement of the units, and means normally holding one unit while the other unit rotates during the dispensing I operation, said means being releasable whereby said units may move in unison past said loading opening for loading operations.

2. In a dispensing machine as in claim 1 wherein said loading opening extends axially of the ramp substantially the entire axial length thereof.

3. In a dispensing machine as in claim 1 wherein the unit comprising the helical ramp is outside the other unit.

4. In a dispensing machine as in claim 1 wherein the pusher unit comprises upper and lower radial arms extending from hubs, which arms.

are connected by members parallel to the axis.

5. In a dispensing machine as in claim 1 wherein there is a shaft for rotatably mounting the outer of said units in said cabinet and means to rotatably mount the inner of said units on said shaft.

6. In a dispensing machine as in claim 1 wherein there is a shaft for rotatably mounting the outer of said units in said cabinet and a second shaft receiving said first shaft and rotatably mounting the inner of said units on the first shaft.

7. In a dispensing machine, an enclosed cabinet having a loading opening and a discharge opening, a unit comprising a helical ramp to support articles to be dispensed journaled in said cabinet, an arcuate portion of which is exposed through said opening for loading articles thereon and rotatable to similarly expose other arcuate portions' thereof through said opening, means to look said ramp unit against rotation relative to said cabinet during the dispensing operation, a

, second unit coaxial with said first unit and rotatably mounted on the first unit and within the same and having circularly arranged pusher-s adjacent said ramp to engage between articles on the ramp to advance them therealong to the discharge opening uponrelative rotation of said units, a motor carried by said first unit and gearing between said units driven by said motor for relative rotation of said units, said means to lock said ramp unit being releasable for rotation of said units together past said loading opening for loading operations.

8. In a dispensing machine as in claim 7 wherein said motor is an electric motor, and a door closes said loading opening with means to movably mount said door, and means responsive to closing said door to place said motor in an elec- 10 trical circuit and responsive to opening said door to'disconnect said electrical circuit.

JOHN F. WELLEKENS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

